Changes to post-conviction DNA win Senate approval

Another bill in Sen. Rodney Ellis’ so-called Innocence Protection Package passed the Senate this morning — this time with unanimous approval.

The bill would require a defendant’s motion for post-conviction DNA testing be granted if the biological evidence was not previously tested, or the biological evidence was previously tested but can be subjected to newer testing techniques that will likely be more accurate.

Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, filed a companion bill in the House, and it was left pending after a committee hearing in February.